The highly anticipated ICC World Test Championship Final between India and Australia is set to kick off at The Oval in London, and cricket legends from around the world have shared their predictions. In a candid conversation, Ricky Ponting, Ravi Shastri, Wasim Akram, Ian Bell, and Ross Taylor discussed the prospects of the one-off Test match. Let’s delve into their insights and forecasts for this thrilling clash.
Ricky Ponting- Prediction: Australia
Ricky Ponting, the former Australian captain, expressed his belief that Australia holds a slight advantage in this encounter. Ponting pointed out India’s selection dilemmas and the English conditions as factors that put them slightly on the back foot. He acknowledged India’s impressive performance during their last tour of Australia but emphasized Australia’s settled squad and the similarity between the English and Australian conditions.
Ravi Shastri- Prediction: Whoever lands the first punch
Ravi Shastri, the legendary former Indian player and coach, opted not to pick a clear favourite but emphasized the significance of landing the first punch in a one-off game. Shastri highlighted the lack of longer-format cricket for both teams recently and suggested that early momentum on the first day could shape the outcome. He named Pat Cummins from Australia and Mohammed Shami from India as key players to watch.
Wasim Akram- Prediction: Australia
Wasim Akram, the iconic Pakistani bowler, leaned towards Australia as his prediction. He believed that the June conditions at The Oval would favour Australia’s attack, giving them a narrow edge. Akram acknowledged India’s strong record against Australia in recent years, but with the fresh square and the Dukes ball in play, he favoured Australia to come out on top.
Ian Bell- Prediction: Whoever bats better
Ian Bell, the former England batsman, emphasized the impact of batting performance in this crucial match. Bell anticipated a good batting wicket at The Oval, with the potential for a spin later in the game. With two world-class bowling attacks, Bell stressed that the team that can amass runs and apply pressure during the latter stages of the match will likely emerge victorious.
Ross Taylor- Prediction: Australia
Ross Taylor, the New Zealand batting stalwart, who played a pivotal role in the Kiwis’ victory in the 2021 World Test Championship Final, also favoured Australia by a narrow margin. Taylor highlighted Australia’s experience in English conditions and the injury concerns that have plagued India as contributing factors to his prediction. However, he acknowledged the importance of the toss and the potential impact of bowling last if India can secure that advantage.
As the World Test Championship Final commences at 10:30 am local time on Wednesday 7 June, cricket enthusiasts worldwide eagerly await this clash between the world’s top two teams. With Australia being slightly favoured according to the legends, all eyes will be on the pitch, the weather, and the batting performances to determine the ultimate champion. This battle for test supremacy promises to be a captivating and closely contested affair, highlighting the beauty and intensity of Test cricket.